Looking like a middle linebacker who traded in his helmet for a surfboard and a Jack Johnson signature guitar, Matt Conable and his band, The Spokesmen, are all about rock and roll with sunburnt Americana flavor. With no website, CDs or band ephemera, it’s easy to assume The Spokesmen are wanted for nefarious actions—but Conable maintains they’re just low profile. “We’ve been playing off and on in the local scene for a long time, but the four Spokesmen have just gotten together in January—we’re taking our time,” he explains. Guitarist Mark Roths and Conable began playing together 20 years ago in an early incarnation of local rock outfit Xing.

Two decades later, the pair has reconnected to play original music. “Everyone in the band likes songs with harmonies you can actually hear and a melody you can appreciate,” says Conable. With 60 original songs under his belt, Conable has become a staple singer/songwriter at The Poet & Patriot, The Verve Lounge, and The Ugly Mug—but for him, music is about reaching as many people as possible, so the need for a bigger band took root. Eventually, David Trustman (bass) and Emmanuel Selassie (drums) joined in, and The Spokesmen were born. The moniker didn’t come as easily. “At first we were called Splitting the Peak,” says Conable, “but people kept calling us Splitting the Peach, which means something entirely different.” Today, The Spokesmen are probably the only band that can engage the audience at Henfling’s Roadhouse Tavern with sweet-lilting harmonies and high energy, and not start a bar fight—it doesn’t hurt that Conable’s professional business provides high-end knives to actors and musicians. There is an air of old school danger to The Spokesmen, but its frontman is still relatable—much like Jack Johnson, Conable’s enthusiasm for well-written songs and mellow rock with a kicking pulse wins over even the hardest of fans.INFO: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 3. The Crow’s Nest, 2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. $5. 476-4560.

Comments (1)

Friendly Facismwritten by Frank Talk,
March 08, 2013

Just a bunch of dumb jocks with guitars

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Health Screening

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It’s a complex week of planetary movements, challenges, demands and callings. We’re in the time of the Leo Sun. Leo—fixed fire, gold, the heart, generous, strong, noble, the king/queen—needs appreciation and praise from everyone in order to move forward. During Leo we gain a greater sense of self-identification by recognizing our creativity. It’s therefore a perfect time for Venus retrograding in Leo. In Venus retrograde we review and re-assess values. Venus retro in Leo concerns our self as valuable, acknowledging talents, gifts, abilities and offerings. Friday, Venus re-enters Leo (29 degrees, a critical degree) continuing the retrograde to 14 degrees Leo on Sept. 6.
Friday (Full Moon) is also the (8 degrees) Leo solar festival, Festival of the Future. Leo is the heart of the sun, the heart of all that matters. When attuned to this heart, we have understanding and inclusivity. The heart of the Lion is Mitra (think “Maitreya,” the coming World Teacher). Leo prepares humanity to receive divine love from subtle sources and later to radiate that love to the kingdoms. Sirius, Ray 2, where love originates, streams through Regulus (heart of Leo), into the heart of the sun (Ray 2) and into all hearts. The heart of Leo is Regulus. Joining Venus, the love underlying all of creation appears.
Saturday is Sun/Neptune (confusion or devotion) with late night Saturn turning stationary direct. Ideas, plans and structures held long in abeyance (since March 14) slowly move forward. (Read more on Leo and the week at nightlightnews.org and Risa D’Angeles’ Facebook page, accessed through my website.)

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